Denny’s staff training in advance of Sept. 3 opening

(Press Staff Photo By C.P. Thompson)Manager Hansel Melger and new employee Amada Maldonado fill out paperwork at Denny’s on Saturday afternoon. The new staff must attend a week-long training before opening day, which is Sept. 3.

If you passed by Silver City’s new Denny’s on Saturday and saw a parking lot filled with cars, that is because the restaurant held its first employee orientation day this weekend. It was the first day of what is to be a weeklong training for the employees, giving them the proper experience before their opening day to the public — Sept. 3.

“Orientation lets workers know about the company,” said Julie Malone-Green, district manager for Denny’s. “We set the standards, introduce the trainers and management, and show the workers how to cooperate with one another.”

Eighty-two Denny’s employees showed up to orientation Saturday, which lasted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There were 34 servers, 22 cooks, 16 dishwashers and 10 hostesses on hand.

Denny’s had more than 10 district managers, general managers and training leaders to help with the workload on Saturday. They showed the new hires PowerPoint presentations and, as a treat, served doughnuts, candy and juice along with raffle prizes.

“Everybody will want to come work for us,” Malone-Green said. “We treat our employees very well.”

Denny’s staffers had two orientation sessions to choose from — 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. to midnight. During those times, workers will get down to business as they learn how a Denny’s should operate, including safety, carrying trays, menu knowledge, wearing the proper gloves, greeting people, putting in orders and more. Chefs will learn to cook breakfast on Monday, lunch on Tuesday and dinner on Wednesday. So that the food will not go to waste, the cooks will eat the dishes themselves.

“We want to give that extra touch, so the customers know about how we are number one,” said Manager Ron Urbansky. “We want to make sure everyone has the ability to deliver food.”

Amada Maldonado will be a hostess for Denny’s and is ready for the opportunity.

“I am excited,” Maldonado said, as she finished her paperwork. “It is a different experience and I have never worked for them before.”

Denny’s was originally set to open at the end of July, but a water supply issue set the date back. Beginning next week, however, folks will be able to get hot pancakes in the morning or a Grand Slam breakfast in the middle of the night.

“I have lived here since 2011,” Urbansky said. “We need a restaurant that is open 24/7. There is nowhere to go at night. We are now that venue.”